BELIEVE the transfer rumour mill and Ashley Young should have been winging his way to any of Europe’s footballing super-powers this summer.

Instead, much to the relief of Aston Villa the England hopeful will continue to wing his way down the flank in claret and blue for the foreseeable future.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City were among the destinations Young was linked with throughout the break.

But there is only one place the 24-year-old claret and blue superstar is interested in getting – to the very top with Villa and England.

Which is why former Watford wideboy Young is keen to remain at Villa Park for the length of his contract which expires in 2012.

“I’ve got two and a half years left, and I’m delighted to be playing at the club,” said Young.

“If you just look at the manager and his ambition, the ambition of the chairman and the ambition of Villa’s players, it proves everyone is pulling in the right way.

“Everyone is in this as one, and everyone wants to achieve the same things.

“Yes I can see myself seeing out the rest of my contract here. Of course I can.

“I am extremely happy at Villa, delighted at the way things have gone.

“The ambition is getting bigger and bigger. As a player you always want to play in the biggest competitions and, fingers crossed, I will be able to play in the Champions League.

“If we add to what we did last season, then hopefully we can break into that top four.”

Young was denied a meeting with Real Madrid’s latest world-beater Cristiano Ronaldo during Villa’s Peace Cup triumph after the Spanish giants were eliminated at the semi-final stage.

And Villa’s very own Galactico upstaged the former Manchester United favourite throughout the tournament as Martin O’Neill’s men lifted the trophy and Young was named Most Valuable Player.

“Ronaldo was a fantastic player in England,” added Young. “He has evolved into a world-class player and it’s disappointing not to play against him. But I don’t see the Spanish league taking over from England as the best in the world.

“Martin O’Neill compared me with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, but I am my own person. I’ve got my own style but it’s nice for the boss to compliment me, though.”